Wildcats Can’t Repeat Magic, Fall to No. 2 Nebraska as Historic Season Comes to a Close

Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Jamie Germano. April 9, 2022 vs. Nebraska in NCAA Tourn. 3rd Round.
Copyright 2022; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Jamie Germano. April 9, 2022 vs. Nebraska in NCAA Tourn. 3rd Round.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University bowling team's run in its first NCAA Collegiate Bowling Regional Championship has come to end as No. 2 Nebraska eliminated the Wildcats on Saturday, 2-0, at the Rochester Regional in the Bowl-A-Roll.

Nebraska fought its way back through the loser's bracket to advance to Championship Saturday while the Wildcats lost to Fairleigh Dickinson in the winner's bracket on Friday, already securing its spot in Championship Saturday and being one of 12 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

But the Wildcats couldn't replicate their success from Friday against the defending national champions, as Nebraska won the Traditional match, 1,046-905, to lead the mega match, 1-0.

Rachel Hirst led the Wildcats with a 215 while CC Riojas bowled a 201. But the Huskers had four student-athletes reach the 200-mark, led by two bowlers with identical 223. Malia Stout bowled a 183 while KC Miller bowled a 173. The combination of Sydney Jones and Desiree Dent bowled a 133 to round out the Wildcats.

The Wildcats put together a solid first game of the Baker total pinfall match, putting down 223 pins to open the second match. But Nebraska stayed hot, bowling a 247 to lead the match by 24 pins after the first game. The Huskers extended its lead to 440-395 after the second game and 661-584 after the third game. Nebraska didn't let up as they won the fourth game again to lead 877-773 with one game left. The Wildcats bowled a 200 in the fifth game, but couldn't catch up to the Huskers as they won the match, 1,093-973, to win the mega match, 2-0.

Throw the third game of the Regional, Rachel Hirst moved into fourth on the individual scoring list, bowling a 220.3 average with a 661 total pinfall.

Nebraska moves on to play FDU in the Regional Championship. Nebraska needs to defeat FDU in two mega matches to complete the comeback from the loser's bracket. FDU just needs one mega-match victory to move on to the NCAA Collegiate Bowling Final Four.